Carton inspecting machine



United States Patent 3,197,788 CARTGN ENSPEQTENG MACHINE Edward G. Thiele, 4217 Lynn A.ve., Minneapolis, Minn,

and John Leavitt Anderson, 2561 Crosby Road, Wayzata, Minn.

Filed Mar. 28, 1960, Ser. No. 18,004 Claims. {CL 259-75) The present invention is concerned generally with a machine designed to inspect fluid containing cartons or the like as they pass along a predetermined path in a conveying network, and more particularly to a milk carton inspecting machine which has a plurality of inspection stations arranged therealong and a reject station arranged therealong in spaced relationship to the inspection stations to remove improperly completed cartons from the conveying system prior to packing. The inspecting machine is preierablyarranged in a conveying network between the carton filling system and the case packing system of a conventional dairy installation or the like. Of course, it will be appreciated that the arrangement is adaptable for use with any of a variety of materials including fluids or solids which may be packaged in cartons similar to the conventionally utillized waxed milk carton.

The apparatus of the present invention permits high speed operation of the inspection station and is accordingly arranged to operate at a rate limited only by the conditions downstream along the conveyor. In other words, the inspection device operates at a rate which is governed by the degree of over-loading, if any, of the conveying network downstream from the various individual stages along the inspection network. If the latter stages of the inspection mechanism become over-loaded, the device is arranged to close down the inspection stages arranged thereabove. According to another feature of the aparatus, a reject station is arranged in the path of the cartons, the reject station being, of course, downstream from the inspection stations. Electrical circuit means including memory means are arranged to correlate the operation of the reject station with the various inspection stations, such as, the various weight or size detecting stations. Accordingly, as an individual carton moves through the inspection network its weight, height and width are measured and the presence along the line of any carton which does not conform to the size tolerences, as well as any carton which does not conform to the maximum or minimum weight tolerance is noted and recorded in the memory means. As these abnormal containers move along the conveying network in predetermined indexed order, and pass through the reject station, they are rejected or otherwise removed from the line and appropriatedly disposed of. Other cartons having their weight and size falling within the normal tolerances are permitted to pass on through the system and are accordingly packed in accordance with the normal routine.

In semi-rigid cartons such as the waxed cartons normally utilized for retaining milk or other fluids, a defect or abnormality in the size of the carton normaly indicates an undesirable condition. For example, either the carton may be abnormally deformed or the staple usually employed in the top portion of the carton may not be properly secured therein. My of these conditions will obviously cause considerable difficulty in an automatic case packing arrangement and hence cartons hav ing any of these abnormalities should be removed from the conveying line prior to reaching a packing stage. The size detecting station includes a plurality of fingers which are arranged to detect the Width and the height of of the individual cartons as they pass therethrough. Each of the fingers is pivoted along a substantially common plane so as to actuate a single cam plate should any 3,107,788 Patented Oct. 22, 1963 of the measurements be abnormal or out of tolerance. It has been determined that ordinary wax impregnated or coated cartons of this type, such as for example, a one quart or a two quart milk carton, have suflicient rigidity so as to force the height detecting finger upwardly ii the conventionally used staple is not properly arranged in the device. Of course, if some other feature of the carton is abnormal, such as the width dimension being abnormal, this fact will be accordingly determined. The weight detecting station is, of course, arranged along the conveying network and individual cartons, as they pass along the path in indexed order in periodic pulsed motion, are intermittently positioned on the weighing station and their compliance with the weight tolerances accordingly determined.

It will be appreciated therefore, that the system of the present invention employs in sequence, a conveying network leading from a container filling station to an ispection system, then to an inspection stage conveying network, and finally to a loading stage conveying network. Accordingly, if the loading stage network becomes over-loaded for any reason, control circuitry is arranged to temporarily close down the inspection stage conveyor driving network. After the loading stage conveyor has been cleared and normal operating conditions are resumed, the inspection system is returned to normal operation.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved milk carton inspecting machine which employs a plurality of conveying stages, the operation rate of one of the stages being determined by the condition of the conveying stage located downstream therefrom.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a milk carton inspecting apparatus which provides inspection stations for a plurality of conditions, and which provides means for rejecting cartons which do not meet the normal predetermined tolerances.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide controlled in-line inspection. of a plurality of conditions in filled fluid containing cartons and to provide means for individually rejecting cartons which do not conform to minimum standards from any line along which the inspection stations'are arranged.

Other and further objectsof the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a study of the following specifications, appended claims, and accompanying drawings wherein,

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a milk carton inspecting machine arranged in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the conveying system of the present invention and illustrating schematicaly the carton delivery path therealong;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating the interrelationships of the various conveyor stages with the inspection and rejection stations; I

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of an electrical circuit controlling the inspection and rejection stations of the apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a memory wheel which is utilized in correlating the operation of the reject station with that of the various inspection stations;

FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view takenalong the lines and in the direction of the arrows 6-6 of FIG. 5 and showing, in addition, the various electrical components which are positioned relative to the memory wheel shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the inspection fingers which are arranged to detect the height and width of the various cartons moving the'rebetween;

FIG. 7A is a topview of a portion of the size insp'ec-.

2 tion apparatus shown in FIG. 7, and showing, in phantom, the reaction of the apparatus in connection with an abnormally sized carton;

FIG. 8 is a side view of a portion of the inspection finger arrangement as shown in FIG. 7, showing, in addition, the switch mechanism actuated by the finger arrangement;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the reject system which is arranged to reject cartons moving along the conveyor path;

FIG. 10 is a detail end view of the actuating mechanism of the reject system as shown in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the scale means which are arranged to determine the weight of the cartons as they move thereacross; and,

FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram of the electrical circuitry employed in connection with the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

According to the preferred modification of the present invention, the carton inspection unit generally designated 19 is provided having a suitable support assembly 11. Support assembly 11 is provided with appropriate feet, pedestals, transverse support elements and the like as are required for the ordinary support of the apparatus of the present invention. The unit also is provided with a series of endless-belt or chain conveyor networks; a pair or" in-feed conveyors from a container filling station, these being generally designated 12 and 13, a pair of inspection stage conveyor systems being generally designated 14 and 15, and a loading stage conveyor being generally designated 16. Reference is made to FIG. 2 of the drawings for a more complete illustration of the relative physical arrangement of these units, one to the other.

Referring now to the in-feed conveyors, it will be observed that conveyors 12 and 13 each feed individual cartons to an indexing station or point which is located along the line at 18 and 19 respectively. For convenience, the indexing station may merely be a discontinuity or break in the normal feed line and is preferably provided with an intermittently operated arm, dog, or the like to index the order of the cartons through the inspection system. Referring to FIG. 1, a suitable intermittently operated arm is shown at 20, this arm being driven from intermittently actuated drive 29a and arranged to provide intermittent reciprocatory movement which will transfer the carton from the indexing station at d8 into conveyor network 14 which forms the inspection portion of the apparatus. A corresponding indexing station is provided at 19, this station being likewise provided with its own 'reciprocatory operating arm, not shown, for bringing car tons onto conveyor 15. These arms are well known in the art and various types may be employed successfully. The inspection conveyor is provided with a plurality of inspection stations, each station being adapted to test or to determine a certain condition of the carton, such as size, weight or the like. In addition, the inspection conveyor is provided with a reject station for each of the conveyors running therethrough. Suitable memory indexing tionships of the various stations and conveying networks is shown. An intermittent drive such as for example, a Geneva type drive, propels the inspection stage conveyors.

The inspection station is preferably provided with a size inspecting station and a weight inspecting station. The size inspection station may, for example, detect the height as 'well as the width of a carton passing therethrough. T he apparatus may, if desired, employ a plurality of fingers arranged to-detect the dimensions of the container, these fingers being illustrated in some detail in FIG. 7 of the drawings. Referring now specifically to FIG. 7, it will be observed that three fingers are provided, two being in the horizontal plane and one being in the vertical plane. The individual fingers, designated 21, 22 and 23 are individually pivoted at points 21a, 22aand 23a respectively. Upon being extended to an unusual width or height, such as would be the normal reaction when an abnormally sized carton passed therebetween, the movement of the fingers causes displacement of the cam follower plate 25. Such motion of the cam follower 25 causes actuation of the normally closed switch 26 arranged in working relationship with the cam follower 25. Actuation of switch 26 through control peg or rod 26a causes a signal to be received in a memory unit, described hereinafter, and the individual carton causing the actuation of the switch 26 will be subsequently rejeoted from the line upon reaching the reject station.

Subsequent or downstream from the size inspection station, a weight inspection station shown in detail in FIG. 11, designated generally 27, is arranged to determine the weight of each individual carton as it moves therethrough.

For convenience, a properly indexed lifting mechanism is provided which will raise and lower a scale positioned beneath the conveying system, the intermittent drive mechanism of the scale providing for intermittent weighing of the individual cartons as they move along the conveying network in indexed manner. For example, as a carton reaches the weight detecting point of conveyor 14, the intermittently actuated cam follower 28 moves to raise the scales 29 and 29a up into contact with the carton perse,

and the departure from normal weight, if any, of the ward movement of the platform 27a in response to the ee- 7 centric 28a. The scales may preferably be of the type which will generate an electric signal in response to the extent of the weight or mass situated thereover. For example, these scales may be inductively coupled to a suitable electrical output, the signal obtained therefrom being a function of the position of weight members 290 and 29d when supporting a filled carton thereover. For example, the inductive linking of the output may vary with the vertical elevation of the plates 290 or 29d. Therefore, in operation, the container originally moves into super-imposed position over plate 290 or 29a, the intermittent drive permitting the container to come to rest thereover. Subsequently in point of time, the eccentric causes the platform 27a to be elevated, stabilizing rods 28b and 39 in indexed spaced relationship along the respective-con veying systems, the abnormally heavy or abnormally light car-tons are rejected at the reject station.

The functioning of the reject station is controlled by the control circuitry including the memory unit as shownin detail in FIGS. 5 and 6, the memory unit being utilized to store the information obtained on inspection until the I indexed and spaced cartons are found in the reject station. Of course, the economics of the individual fillingopera tion may dictate that both heavy and light cartons be re moved from the line, however, for most applications such as milk filling operations and the like, a mere rejection of underweight cartons together with an audible or visible signal of overweight cartons is deemed more economical: ly feasible. Therefore, the underweight cartons may be 3 removed from the line and proper care may be takenin adjusting the arrangement to handle both the underweight and the overweight situation.

Particular attention is now directed to FIGS. 9 and 10 wherein the reject mechanism is illustrated in substantial detail. Accordingly, the reject mechanism generally designated 31 includes a pair of main drive shafts 32 and 33, each shaft having affixed thereto suitable mating drive gears 32:: and 33:: respectively. The shaft 32, for example, may be driven reciprocably by any suitable external means, such as a crank arm or the like, not shown. The speed of rotation of the shafts 32 and 33 is, of course, synchronized with the main drive mechanism, the energ being supplied by the prime power source, for example, motor 38. Intermittent carton rejecting motion of the reject arms 32b and 33b is determined by the drive means of the index drive mechanism illustrated in FIG. 10. The drive mechanism includes notched cylinders 32c and 33c each of which is adapted to make operative cont-act with the plate 32a. The plate 32a, for example, is adapted to be moved upwardly or downwardly by means of the solenoid, for example, 5'6 which is actuated through its appropriate electrical connection with the memory unit. In operation, therefore, upon receiving a signal from the memory unit, the solenoid 56 is actuated and plunger Sea is moved or driven downwardly therefrom, carrying plate 32d into contact with the notched portion of the cylinder 320. Because of its sliding contact with the slots in reject arm 32!), arm 32b is pivoted about shaft 32 to the extent necessary to reject a carton determined to be defective or deficient from the conveyor system. Arm 33b is arranged to operate essentially in the same fashion as arm 32b, the distinction merely being in the direction of travel of the arm, each arm being arranged, of course, to operate outwardly. Suitable stop plates designated 32e and 33a are designed to prevent over reverse or counter-rotation of the reject arms 32b and 33b respectively. Thus, it will be observed that in the absence of a signal from the memory circuit, the reject arm will merely remain stationary and will not be actuated to remove the cartons from the conveying line, however, the occt rence of a suitable signal therefrom causes peniodic actuation thereof to remove the improper cartons from the unit.

Downstream from the reject station, the plurality of conveyor lines 14 and feed into a single conveyor line 36. This permits and facilitates simpler handling of the cartons on a loading operation. In order to transfer from a plurality of conveyor lines to a single conveyor line, a properly indexed transfer arm generally designated 34 is provided to shift the cartons from one line onto a continuation of the other line or in other words, from a dual line to a single line. In order to provide for efiicient operation at this point, the pushing mechanism 35 is provided with a normally closed switch 35a which opens upon actuation of the push rod 35b from the pushing mechanism 35. A second container detecting switch 36, also normally closed, is arranged in parallel electrical relation therewith and has its control arm positioned at.

a point along the conveyor 16 so as to re-close in the event of passage of a carton therebeyond. Therefore, the push rod 35b is not able to function except for occasions when the normally closed container detecting switch 35 does not find a container arranged therealong. In any instance, when it should occur that a carton is arranged upstream from position sensed by switch 35 in the conveyor system 16, and at the same time if a carton is positioned at the position of carton 37, overloading is indicated in the loading stage conveyor and the inspection stage mechanism is immediately shut down. For convenience, motor '38 which provides power to all moving parts of the inspecting system is preferably controlled, among other ways, to stop upon the simultaneous opening of the container detecting switch arranged adjacent rod 35b and container detecting switch 36. Thus, it is possible for the inspection station to operate at a speed which is limited by the possible over-loading condition of the loading stage conveyor.

Reference is made to FIG. 4 which shows, schematically, a wiring diagram which may be employed in the inspection stage. A normally open main switch 39 is provided along with control panels 40 and 49a which include a suitable wiring enclosure as well as an enclosure for the various other relays and the like which may form components in the system disclosed hereinbelow. A second start switch, normally open switch member -41, is provided for controlling the power supply to the relays. A pair of relays 42 and 43 are provided in [the circuitry associated with the size detecting station. The relays, for convenience, may include a pilot light wired electrical parallel relationship thereto, such as the pilot lights 42a and 43a respectively. These lights will give a visual indication of an abnormally sized carton passing between the various size detecting switches. For convenience of illustration, the size detecting switches are designated 44 and 45, the switch 44 being, for example, associated with the conveyor network 14-, switch 45 being associated with the conveyor network 15. (It will be appreciated that switches 44- and 45 correspond to the. previously referred to switch 26 associated with the size detecting fingers shown in greater detail in FIG. 7.) The reaction or output of the relays 42 and 43 is directed to the memory unit, and the information received by the memory unit will control the subsequent operation of the reject control. As the car-tons move along in the conveyor path, they meet the weight control portion of the unit. If the cartons are found to be overweight, in the absence of other abnormalities, switches 47 and 48 are actuated thereby causing pilot lamps 49 and 50 respectively to come on. This will give the operator a visual indication of overweight'existing in one or the other of the conveyor networks. The switches 51 and 52 are likewise associated with the weight detecting station, and may, for example, be appropriately associated with the underweight control lamps, each being merely one pole of a single pole'double throw switch.

arrangement. This, of course, may be appropriately selected by the individual requirements of the units and the application here is a conventional one. Underweight control switches 51 and 52 appropriately actuate the relays 53 and 54 respectively. The output of relays 53 and 54 is directed to bring about a change in condition in the memory unit, the information or change conveyed to the memory unit being utilized subsequently to'actuate the reject control after the appropriate delay. Of course, if desired, a visual indication from the pilot lamps 53a and 54a may be given through the parallely wired pilot lamps 53a and 54a respectively.

The reject control is actuated by the memory unit 46. Reference is made to FIGS. 5 and 6 whichv illustrate a memory unit which may be employed in connection with thisapparatus. Upon receipt of a signal from the memory unit, the appropriate reject control solenoid 56 or the reject control solenoid 5''], these solenoids controlling plungers 56a and 57a, may be actuated to cause proper periodic functioning of the reject mechanism. For convenience, switches 58 and 59 are indicated as being in series with the individual reject controls, these switches being, for example, actuated by the physical positioning of the various pins in the memory wheel disclosed in FIGS. 5 and 6. I

Referring now specific-ally to the memory unit, this unit which is generally designated '61 is provided with a Wheel 62 having a plurality of pins frictionally retained in the ports provided therein. Accordingly, it'will be appreciated that the memory wheel 62 is designed with a plurality of ports 6363 located therein, each port being arranged to recieve a pin such as the pins '65, ,66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71 and 72 therethrough. The pins are slidable within the port 63, and are arranged to control certain normally open switches arranged adjacent thereto, such as, for example, switch 58 which has been previously mentioned relative to the discussion of FIG. 4. Therefore, the solenoid 42 is provided with a spring biasedj plunger 75, the plunger being arranged to contact pin 66. Referring now to the bottom portion of FIG. 6, it will be observed that pin 76 has been displaced laterally in the port 63 and extends a substantial distance outwardly to the left. The unusual physical arrangement of this pin, or any other pin in the system, for example, actuates control pin 58a of the normally open switch 58. The actuation of switch 58 causes the reject station to function and accordingly an abnormal carton will be removed from the conveyor line. Wedge member 78 is provided with a cam face 79 which operates to replace the pins 65-72 to a normal position where they extend equally from either face of the wheel 62. Of course, it will be appreciated that a single wheel may be employed for a. plurality of inspection and rejection lines, the only criterion being that the rotation of the wheel be indexed with the motion on the conveyor system, and further that the various reject stations be properly coordinated through the memory wheel to the various detecting stations. Therefore, it is ob served that a fault or an abnormality discovered or detected in a carton will cause actuation of the solenoid 42, the actual information recorded being found for example, in a displacement of a pin such as pin 7 (i. This physical displacement is detected after the appropriate time interval through a switch which controls the periodic operation of the reject system or station.

Referring now in particular to FIG. 12, there is shown a schematic circuitry diagram of the apparatus of the present invention. Downstream from the power supply means, a normally closed stop switch Mil is arranged in order to control power flow to the entire apparatus;

Starting relay 102 along with its accompanying holding relay 1&2 is provided to energize the case packing motor relay 1%. Pilot lamp ass is provided in order to indicate the availability of power to the case packing motor relay 104. A second normally closed stop switch lttfi is arranged in series with the switches controlling case packing motor 104, and appropriate starting relay and holding relay (1G7 and .168 respectively are provided for energizing the loading stage conveyor motor relay 109 so long as stop switch 101 remains closed. Pilot lamp lid is provided across the line feeding the loading stage con-- veyor 109 in order to indicate the availability of the power thereto. Still another stop switch is provided in series with switches lili and 166, this one being designated I l-1 and controlling the flow of power to the inspection stage conveyor motor starting relay. In series with the stop switch .111, a pair of normally closed switches 35a, and 36 are provided, these being arranged to detect "overloading, if any, which may exist in the loading stage conveyor network generally designated 16. The conventional motor start switch 112 together with its accompanying holding contact 113 is provided in order to control the current flow to the inspection stage power supply relay 114. Pilot light 115 is likewise provided in order "to visually indicate power across the motor start relay 114. If desired, an alarm relay M6 may be provided across the line in order to indicate, for example, a period of time when both switches 35a and 36 are opened, thereby indicating an overload condition in the loading stage conveyor. The alarm relaylld, is, of course, of the type energized upon the occurrence of a cessation of power flow thereto. Apparatus of this type are well known and are commercially available today.

The examples given hereinabove are for purposes of illustration only. It will be appreciated and understood that there is no intention of limiting the scope. of the coverage to these specific examples alone, inasmuch as conveying system and to reject unsatisfactory units therefrom, said apparatus comprising a plurality of conveyor stages including an inspection stage conveyor with sensing arms for simultaneously sensing at least two dimensions of a container and a loading stage conveyor positioned downstream therefrom, at least one in operation station disposed along said inspection stage conveyor inincluding a container size determining station and a container weight determining station, at least one reject station disposed along said conveying system downstream from said testing stations for removal of unsatisfactory units therefrom, and circuit means for controlling the op eration of said stations and said conveyingsystcm, said circuit means including control means operatively associated with said circuit means for determining the existence of an overloaded condition along said loading stage conveyor, and for interrupting operation of said inspection stage conveyor upon the occurrence of an overloading event on said loading stage conveyor.

2. Container inspection apparatus arranged to test certain conditions existing in individual container units being transported along a certain predetermined path by certain conveying systems and to reject unsatisfactory units therefrom, said apparatus comprising a pluralityof conveyor stages including an inspection stage conveyor and a loading stage conveyor disposed downstream therefrom, said conveyor stages being arranged to convey said container units in intermittent fashion therealong, a plu rality of inspection stations disposed along said inspec-T tion stage conveyor including a container size determining station with sensing arms for simultaneously sensing at least two dimensions of a container, and a container weight determining station, a reject station arranged along said conveying system downstream from the testing stations for removal of unsatisfactory units therefrom, and circuit means for controlling the operation of said stations and said conveying system, said circuit means in cluding a pair of spaced position sensing means operatively associated with said circuit means for determining the existence of an overloaded condition along said loada plurality of inspection stations disposed along said in spection stage conveyor including a container size determining station and a container weight determining sta-' tion, a reject station arranged along said conveying sys tem downstream from said testing stations for removal of unsatisfactory units from said conveying system, said size determining station including a size detection plate ar- 1 ranged to be displaced by aplurality of cams positioned adjacent thereto, each of said cams being actuated by inspection fingers disposed along said path and forming an enclosure zone defining at least two normal dimensions of said container units, said inspection fingers being.

'mounted for displacement upon passage of containers having an abnormal dimension through said enclosure 1 zone, circuit means controlling the operation of said stations in said conveying system, said weight determining station having scale means arranged along said path to detect individual containers havingan abnormal weight passing nberealong, said detection plate and scale being coupled to said circuit means, the circuit means being ar-' ranged to energize said reject station and thereby reject abnormal containers from said path.

4. Container inspection apparatus arranged to test cer-' tain conditions existing in semi-rigid container units be-' ing transported along a predetermined path by a certain conveying system and to reject unsatisfactory units therefrom, said apparatus comprising a plurality of conveyor stages including an inspection stage conveyor and a loading stage conveyor disposed downstream therefrom, a plurality of inspection stations disposed along said inspection stage conveyor including a container size determining station and a container weight determining station, a reject station arranged along said conveying system downstream from said testing stations for removal of unsatisfactory units from said conveying system, said size determining station including a size detection plate having a plurality of cams in operative relationship therewith, each of said cams being individually arrmged to displace said plate, and signal means being actuated upon displacement of said detection plate, each of said cams being pivoted for rotation about an axis and having an inspection finger secured thereto, said inspection fingers being disposed along said path and forming an enclosure zone defining at least two normal dimensions of said container units, and being mounted for displacement upon passage of containers having an abnormal dimension through said enclosure zone, circuit means controlling the operation of said stations in said conveying system, said weight determining station having scale means arranged along said path to detect individual containers having an abnormal weight passing therealong, said detection plate and scale being coupled to said circuit means, the circuit means being arranged to energize said reject station and thereby reject abnormal containers from said path.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 being particularly characterized in that the height and width of said enclosure zone is substantially equal to the height and width of a normal container unit.

6. Container inspection apparatus arranged to test certain conditions existing in semi-rigid container units being transported along a predetermined path by a certain conveying system and to reject unsatisfactory units therefrom, said apparatus comprising a plurality of conveyor stages including an inspection stage conveyor and a loading stage conveyor disposed downstream therefrom, a plurality of inspection stations disposed along said inspection stage conveyor including a container size determining station and a container weight determining station, a reject station arranged along said conveying system downstream from said testing stations for removal of unsatisfactory units from said conveying system, said size determining station including a size detection plate having a plurality of cams in operative relationship therewith, each of said cams being arranged to displace said plate, and signal means being actuated upon displacement of said detection plate, one of said cams being mounted for pivotal rotation about a substantially horizontal positioning axis, and at least one other cam being mounted for pivotal rotation about a substantially vertical positioning axis, each cam having an inspection finger secured thereto and adapted to rotate the cam about said positioning axis, said inspection fingers being disposed along said path and forming an enclosure zone, and being mounted for displacement upon passage of containers having an abnormal dimension through said enclosure zone, circuit means controlling the operation of said stations in said conveying system, said Weight determining station having scale means arranged along said path to detect individual containers having an abnormal weight passing therealong, said detection plate and scale being coupled to said circuit means, the circuit means being arranged to energize said reject station and thereby reject abnormal containers from said path.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 being further characterized in that two cams are provided, each being mounted for pivotal rotation about a substantially vertical positioning axis, and having an inspection finger secured thereto and adapted to rotate the cam about said positioning axis.

8. Container inspection apparatus arranged to test certain conditions existing in semi-rigid container units being transported along a predetermined path by a certain conveying system and to reject unsatisfactory units therefrom, said apparatus comprising a plurality of conveyor stages including an inspection stage conveyor and a loading stage conveyor disposed downstream therefrom, a plurality :of inspection stations disposed along said inspection stage conveyor including a container size determining station and a container weight determining station, a reject station arranged along said conveying system downstream from said testing stations for removal of unsatisfactory units from said conveying system, said size determining station including a size detection plate having a plurality of cams in operative relationship therewith, each of said cams being arranged to displace said plate, and signal means being actuated upon displacement of said detection plate, each of said cams being pivoted for rotation about an axis and having an inspection finger secured thereto, said inspection fingers being disposed along said path and forming an enclosure zone defining at least two normal dimensions of said container units, said fingers being mounted for displacement upon passage of containers having an abnormal dimension through said enclosure zone, cirouit means controlling the operation of said stations in said conveying system, said weight determining station having scale means arranged along said path to detect individual containers having an abnormal Weight passing therealong, said detection plate and scale being coupled to said circuit means, the circuit means being arranged to energize said reject station and thereby reject abnormal containers from said path, said circuit means including a pair of spaced position sensing means operatively associated with said circuit means for determining the existence of an overloaded condition along said loading stage conveyor, and for interrupting the operation of said inspection stage conveyor upon the occurrence or an overloading event on said loading stage conveyor.

9. The apparatus of claim 2 being further characterized in that said spaced position sensing means comprise a pair of normally closed switch elements having actuating arms disposed in spaced relationship and in predetermined spaced areas along said predetermined path, said switches being arranged to be opened upon the event that a container unit is present in said predetermined spaced areas. a 7

l0. Container inspection apparatus arranged to test certain conditions existing in individual container units being transported along a certain predetermined path by a certain conveying system and to reject unsatisfactory units therefrom, said apparatus comprising a plurality of conveyor stages including an inspection stage conveyor and a loading stage conveyor disposed downstream therefrom, a plurality of inspection stations disposed along said inspection stage conveyor including a container size determining station and a container weight determining station, a reject station arranged along said conveying system downstream from said testing stations for removal of unsatisfactory units from said conveying system, and means for driving said inspection stage conveyor in periodic indexed manner, said size determining station including sensing arms for simultaneously sensing at least two dimensions of a container and condition responsive means arranged to be actuated upon passage of a container having an abnormal dimension along said arms, said weight determining station having scale means arranged to detect individual containers having an abnor-' mal weight moving therealong and being further arranged to actuate second condition responsive means, said first and said second condition responsive means being operatively associated with a memory means, and being arranged to actuate third condition responsive means ther of, said memory means comprising an intermittently rotating wheel member arranged to move synchronously enemas 1 i with said inspection conveyor stage and a plurality of cireumferentially spaced actuating elements mounted on said wheel respectively responsive to the inspecting stations and weighing stations at one rotational position and thereafter energizing the reject station at subsequent rotational positions, said third condition responsive means comprising a plurality of relatively spaced indicating stations, each of said indicating stations being arrangedto References Qited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Henszey et a] Jan. 18, 1944 Stalhandske et a1 Oct. 19, 1954 Phillips Apr. 4, 1961 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3, 107,788 October 22, 1963 Edward G. Thiele et a1,

It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered petent reqiiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 4, line 46, for "29a" read 29d column 5, line 17, for "32a" read 32d column 8, line 6 for "in operation" read inspection Signed and sealed this 4th day of August 1964.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD J. BRENNER ERNEST W. SWIDER Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

1. CONTAINER INSPECTION APPARATUS ARRANGED TO TEST CERTAIN CONDITIONS EXISTING IN INDIVIDUAL CONTAINER UNITS BEING TRANSPORTED ALONG A PREDETERMINED PATH BY A CERTAIN CONVEYING SYSTEM AND TO REJECT UNSATISFACTORY UNITS THEREFROM, SAID APPARATUS COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF CONVEYOR STAGES INCLUDING AN INSPECTION STAGE CONVEYOR WITH SENSING ARMS FOR SIMULTANEOUSLY SENSING AT LEAST TWO DIMENSIONS OF A CONTAINER AND A LOADING STAGE CONVEYOR POSITIONED DOWNSTREAM THEREFROM, AT LEAST ONE IN OPERATION STATION DISPOSED ALONG SAID INSPECTION STAGE CONVEYOR ININCLUDING A CONTAINER SIZE DETERMINING STATION AND A CONTAINER WEIGHT DETERMINING STATION, AT LEAST ONE REJECT STATION DISPOSED ALONG SAID CONVEYING SYSTEM DOWNSTREAM FROM SAID TESTING STATIONS FOR REMOVAL OF UNSATISFACTORY UNITS THEREFROM, AND CIRCUIT MEANS FOR CONTROLLING THE OPERATION OF SAID STATIONS AND SAID CONVEYING SYSTEM, SAID CIRCUIT MEANS INCLUDING CONTROL MEANS OPERATIVELY ASSOCIATED WITH SAID CIRCUIT MEANS FOR DETERMINING THE EXISTENCE OF AN OVERLOADED CONDITION ALONG SAID LOADING STAGE CONVEYOR, AND FOR INTERRUPTION OPERATION OF SAID INSPECTION STAGE CONVEYOR UPON THE OCCURRENCE OF AN OVERLOADING SYSTEM ON SAID LOADING STAGE CONVEYOR. 